Israel Matzav

Hamas breaks cease fire

The alarms started sounding again shortly after 9:00 this evening as Hamas violated the cease fire (which was supposed to end at Midnight) by firing rockets into southern Israel. The Israeli delegation has left the Cairo talks (which once again went nowhere) and returned home. It looks like the war is starting up again.

Sirens sounded in southern Israel after 9:00 p.m. and at least one rocket that was fired from Gaza exploded harmlessly in the Hof Ashkelon area. Sirens were reported in Hof Ashkelon, Lachish, and the Eshkol regions, as Hamas terrorists broke the truce with Israel more than two hours before it was scheduled to end.

A Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri, said however that Hamas did not fire any rockets at Israel.

MK Motti Yogev (Jewish Home) said following the renewed fire from Gaza that Israel must “Hit Hamas with all our might, until it screams.”

MK Danny Danon (Likud) said: “Stop stuttering, eliminate the heads of Hamas.”

Thousands of IDF reservists were deployed to the Gaza front Wednesday, reported Israel Hayom, which said that the deployment is in preparation for a possible resumption of hostilities.

In addition, reported the daily, hundreds of other reservists were told to prepare for possible deployment later tonight.

The IDF says the reservists deployed to Gaza Wednesday are simply replacing other troops who are going home.

Arutz Sheva has learned that many of the reservists who were sent home from Gaza are still on call and can be redeployed at short notice.

Arab sources gave contradictory reports on progress at the Cairo ceasefire talks in which Israel and Hamas are negotiating indirectly through Egyptian mediators.

The Israeli delegation to the talks flew home Wednesday evening. The Palestinian team is scheduled to hold a press conference at 9:30 p.m. local time.

But that press conference was postponed indefinitely. 

However, the press conference was postponed until further notice, apparently at the request of the Egyptians.

Palestinian sources said the Egyptians were exerting heavy pressure on the Palestinian team to accept the proposal so as to allow more time to achieve a long-term cease-fire.

Earlier, the sources said that the Palestinian delegation might lave Cairo in wake of the failure of the cease-fire talks.

The sources quoted members of the Palestinian delegation as saying that little progress has been achieved so far in the last three days.

Meanwhile, a Hamas website reported that talks in Cairo had hit obstacles and Palestinian delegates were preparing to leave.

According to Israeli media reports, the Israeli team returned home earlier Wednesday evening from the indirect negotiations in the Egyptian capital.

Former Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Wednesday that a any permanent cease-fire with Israel should include the lifting of the blockade on the Gaza Strip.

“The sacrifices of our people don’t allow for compromises on the rights and demands of the Palestinians,” Haniyeh said.

He expressed support for the Palestinian team in Cairo and urged its members not to “succumb to blackmail.”

Haniyeh’s statements were broadcast on Hamas’ Aqsa TV station shortly before the expiration of the cease-fire at Wednesday midnight.

Also on Wednesday, the United States said it wanted a long-term cease-fire secured between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, but will settle for an extension of the current, short-term truce if a larger accord cannot be reached tonight among negotiators in Cairo.

US President Barack Obama spoke to Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu by phone on Wednesday to express that message, urging the Israeli premier to seal a deal that would end the violence, after a month-long war led to extensive destruction in the Gaza Strip.

Where did Haniyeh make this statement? From the safety of his bunker under Shifa Hospital. What a coward standing behind women and children to shield himself below ground. And by the way, why is Obama suddenly telling us 'make peace no matter what the cost? Why should we?

Sorry for all the quiet this afternoon. I had a lot of work, then dinner with some friends this evening, and now I am totally wiped out (about three hours of sleep every night this week).

Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, cease fire, Gaza, Hamas, IDF, Ismail Haniyeh, Operation Protective Edge

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:38 PM